Whale Heritage Sites Summit

The Whale Heritage Sites scheme will be launched at the Whale Heritage Sites Summit in Horta, Faial, the Azores, on 28-29 October 2015. At this two day meeting, representatives from tourist destinations, international institutions and the private sector will come together with global experts in tourism, sustainability and whale watching to discuss the Whale Heritage Sites concept and agree the criteria for site designation.

Interested parties will be invited and encouraged to attend the conference and input into discussions. The agreed criteria will then be taken forward in a pilot project in the Azores, to attempt to establish the World’s first Whale Heritage Site in 2016. Other destinations interested in achieving Whale Heritage Site status will be invited to register their interest at the Summit.

The Whale Heritage Sites summit will form part of a five day programme which will also include the World Whale Conference, as well as a full day workshop on Whale Heritage Site designation for Azorean stakeholders.

Full Itinerary

Conference venue: Teatro Faialense, Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal

Monday 26 October: World Whale Conference and AGM
– Global programmes to protect cetaceans

Tuesday 27 October: World Whale Conference and AGM
– Global programmes to protect cetaceans

Wednesday 28 October: Whale Heritage Sites Summit – Day 1
– Welcome, celebrity keynote speech, presentations, defining criteria, discussions

Thursday 29 October: Whale Heritage Sites Summit – Day 2
– Presentations about Azores, endorsement from celebrities and experts, next steps, launch, launch party

Friday 30 October: Workshop: Azores – planning for Whale
Heritage Site status
– Meeting of Azores stakeholders to agree Azores Whale Festival plans and discuss improving standards for whale watching

For full conference information click here